Group Faults Zamfara Govt Over Claim That Ex-Gov Matawalle Abandoned His People

LAGOS – A socio-political group, Northern Socio-Political Rights Network (NSPRN) has faulted the Zamfara State Government over the claim that the Minister of State for Defence, Bello Muhammed Matawalle has abandoned the people of state.

Mohammed Farouk Lawal, in a press statement on Wednesday signed on behalf of the group condemned the circulated press statement credited to the Zamfara State Government through the Commissioner for Information and Culture Zamfara State, Mr. Mahmud Muhammad Dantawasa, alleging that the former governor of the state, HE Bello Muhammed Matawalle is planning a “sudden and politically motivated return”, describing it as a misinformation.

The statement reads, “I took my time to read the long read with I must confess was a torturous exercise as it was filled with acute knowledge-gap on issue of governance, blame shifting, fear mongering, and a whacked attempt at image laundering of Mr. Dauda Lawal, the incumbent Governor of Zamfara State.

“From the statement, it’s evident that the current administration of Zamfara State will rather be deflective while owning up to its failure, incompetence and poor performance, and also demonstrate a sustenance of the obsession of Mr. Dauda Lawal and his government’s obsession with Dr. Matawalle who has moved on to a higher responsibility and national assignment.

“In the height of frustration and desperation, the Commissioner for Information embarked on a misinformation drive when he claimed in the statement that; “For over a year since leaving office, Matawalle completely abandoned the same people he swore to protect. He neither visited the state nor showed compassion during our most painful moments of insecurity and loss. Not a single condolence, not a single visit, even as bandits ravaged our communities and lives were lost. Yet now, as the election season approaches, he suddenly remembers Zamfara.”

He added, “For sake of simple education, Dr. Matawalle had been Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for over two years. In furtherance of this simple education, there is no provision of the Oath of Office as a Minister and while taking the Oath of Office as Minister of State for Defence did Dr. Matawalle swore to protect the people of Zamfara. His oath was to be faithful and bear true allegiance to the Federal Republic of Nigeria, a pledge to discharge their duties to the best of their ability, in accordance with the Constitution, a promise to not allow personal interest to influence their official conduct, a pledge to commit to protecting and defending the Constitution, to do right to all manner of people, without fear or favour, affection, or ill-will.

“So the sentiments and emotional blackmail by the Zamfara State Government demanding special attention and treatment for Zamfara State is demanding the Honorable Minister of State for Defence to violate the oath he took while assuming office. That is against the spirit of fairness required of him while discharging his duties.

“Again, it’s one of the responsibilities of the State Governor as enshrined in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) to coordinate with federal security agencies to ensure Law and order, but that has never been the case with the Dauda Lawal-led administration has it has always attempted to discredit federal security agencies in his ploy to politicise the insecurity challenges in the state. So the poor state of security lies with Dauda Lawal.

“Finally, I must say that Mr. Dantawasa cannot speak for the people of Zamfara State, it is well above his pay grade. It is left for the people of Zamfara to decide which era is “failure” and who they classify a performer.

Moreover, H.E. Matawalle is visiting Zamfara, his home state, I don’t think there is any law or moral conviction against such.”